Are you ready for Sunshine & Showers?

Hello! I'm really chuffed to have my Sunshine & Showers crochet applique set released in April (just!). It ended up being a busy month with my birthday, hubby had time off, I took a whole week a way from my business, family were visiting and there was an Easter meal at my parents' house for 24 people! Phew, no wonder this pattern took a while!

If you were following me this time last year, you may remember my Sunshine patch? This year I have added a raindrop and cloud to the set in a similar style which I think you're going to love just as much! You can find the pattern on my new website here.

These cute little patches can be sewn onto garments, bags etc, or glued onto a card to make a birthday card, or simply a piece of wall art, or turned into a badge (like in the photo above). They can be used as a group or on their own - there are endless possibilities and at the foot of the pattern I even give some examples for taking the project further.

There are a couple of video links to help you get started and each design has its own photo tutorial and chart which should really help you! The pattern is written in UK terms and the patches can be made in any yarn and in any thickness of yarn with the appropriate size hook. I used cotton DK for mine, but you could scale up and use super chunky and make them cushions - go wild!

I would love to see what you make, so be sure to tag me on social media or reply to any of my emails with your photos.

I do hope you like this pattern and go ahead to have some fun with it! 

Until next time, happy crocheting, 

Marta xx

Sunshine Patch crochet competition launch

 

Hello! Today I'm really excited to launch my Sunshine Patch crochet competition! This challenge is all about pushing your creativity and I've been in touch with some fabulous small businesses to bring you some amazing prizes!

I'm passionate about encouraging people to take a crochet design and put their own spin on it. Crochet is an especially good craft for allowing you to do this because the stitches are so quick & easy to build up and if they don't look how you hoped they're easy to unravel and start again. It's also simple to swap one stitch for another, for example double crochet stitches instead of trebles to make a segment smaller. Then there is yarn choice and colour which can vary a look dramatically! 

If you've ever worked up a crochet pattern, read the instructions and thought "I'm not going to do it like that, I'm going to do it my way!" then you've already given this a go - well done! But, perhaps making alterations in this way is something that you you really aren't confident about or hadn't even thought of doing - if so, I hope you find my competition encouraging!

So, here's the competition ...

1.  Firstly, you will need a copy of my Sunshine Patch crochet pattern: if you are signed up to recieve my newsletter, you will have a copy already; if not, simply sign up to my newsletter and the pattern will automatically be sent to you for FREE. Sign up here.
2.  I would like you to take my Sunshine Patch crochet pattern and add your own twist. There are some suggestions in the pattern to get you thinking, but there are endless possibities! The twist could be in the final use of the patch or it could be a dramatic transformation (or both!). I want you to be as creative as you can, now is your chance to SHINE!
3.  Once completed, you can either post your photo to Instagram with the hashtag #MMDSunshinePatch or you can simply reply to the pattern email, attaching your photo. 
4. The competition will run until midnight on Thursday 10th June (BST) and the prize will be awarded to the most creative interpretation of my Sunshine Patch crochet pattern. The prize includes 1x sunshine stitch marker from Labours of Love Crochet, 1x acrylic pin & 1x greetings card from Unicorn Puffs and Rainbows, 1x handmade crochet hook from Pedro's Plaques & Pretty Things and 1x online Blocking Masterclass from The Crochet Project. 
5. Competition open worldwide (however, if any import tax fees are charged, they will need to be paid for by the winner).

You can see the prizes in the photo below, it's an amazing bundle! All prizes have kindly been donated and I am so thankful for the support of the crochet community on Instagram. If you're not already following me, you can find me on Instagram here.

Crochet is a wonderful way to let your imagination run wild - be brave & experiment - whatever you make I'm sure it will be awesome! And ... if it doesn't work out as you hoped, it's only a small project, not the end of the world - try again! I can't wait to see what you make ...

Marta xx